Wild flowers

[Lankyman]

Chicken of the wood?

After looking at stuff online I'd agree with you. I don't think I'd risk eating it though. Better left for the hairy fungus beetle?

Chicken of the Woods (Laetiporus sulphureus) - Woodland Trust

Find out all about the weird and wonderful fungus chicken of the woods, from where it grows to what it is used for with pictures.

www.woodlandtrust.org.uk

 

[bagpuss]

After looking at stuff online I'd agree with you. I don't think I'd risk eating it though. Better left for the hairy fungus beetle?

Chicken of the Woods (Laetiporus sulphureus) - Woodland Trust

Find out all about the weird and wonderful fungus chicken of the woods, from where it grows to what it is used for with pictures.

www.woodlandtrust.org.uk

I always avoid the ones that include the warning 'may cause stomach upset in some people'

 

[Lankyman]

We seem to be back to 'normal' British summer (at least in the more northerly reaches of our island). Back to windy, cool and showery. Driving up the motorway into Scotland the great swathes of rosebay willow-herb seem to have had a renewed lease of life and are out in full force. As it's not advisable to stop and admire them here are a few clinging to the side of the Waterloo monument above New Abbey near Dumfries. There's also a ragwort and a small ash sapling.

If you're in the area it's well worth the short steep walk. It's possible to climb the interior spiral staircase to see the view over the Solway

 

[pwhole]

Here's one I could get to with the DSLR

 

[Lankyman]

Here's one I could get to with the DSLR

I'll see your pink and raise you a white (willow-herb). Seen on the way up Criffel (us, not the flower).

Lots of blooming heather once clear of the forestry. Fifty years after first seeing it from the Lakes, driving past and making excuses finally walked up. Worth it for the views.

 

[alanw]

Seen on the way up Criffel
Fifty years after first seeing it from the Lakes, driving past and making excuses finally walked up. Worth it for the views.

Living in Maryport, Criffel was often (weather permitting) visible from my parent's house. I've never been up it either, although I've been thinking about it for 50+ years.

Here's a photo from my brother's web site

 

[Lankyman]

Living in Maryport, Criffel was often (weather permitting) visible from my parent's house. I've never been up it either, although I've been thinking about it for 50+ years.

Here's a photo from my brother's web site

It does look like a bit of a tedious pudding hill from England so I think that's what put me off for so long. We did a bit of a circuit over a northerly top called Knockendoch and round by Loch Kindar which was much more varied and interesting than the straight up and down slog up the side. I was surprised how busy the hill was but probably to be expected given the direct made path and the time of year.

 

[Pegasus]

Seen on a recent walk near Bampton in the Lakes. Can recommend the Mardale Inn!

We even found some limestone

 

[Lankyman]

View attachment 27332

Seen on a recent walk near Bampton in the Lakes. Can recommend the Mardale Inn!


View attachment 27335

We even found some limestone

Looks like Knipe Scar? Not a clue regarding the fungus, sorry!

 

[caving_fox]

Was surprised by how much meadowsweet there was above Janet's foss in the approach to goredale scar. Most of the valley bottom covered in it. Couldn't get a decent picture of the swathe however.

 

[Lankyman]

We've had a spell or two of the high temperatures and lack of rain but nothing like as severe as further south. Recently there's been a reasonable amount of rain but in the woods this morning I noticed that even the rhododendrons are showing signs of stress with some leaves turning yellow.

 

[Cantclimbtom]

Admittedly fruit not flower, but I'm very surprised to see it so early, maybe it's all the hot weather?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arum_maculatum, cuckoo pint or lords and ladies, or other names. Near Harrison's Rocks (near Tunbridge Wells)

I was in Yorkshire yesterday, around Harrogate and astonished to see some patches of green in the grass and fields. Everything has been completed scorched down south.

 

[bagpuss]

Not many wild flowers to see on today's walk on Mendip, but did see what I think is Mugwort on the Strawberry line.

Hoping we get some rain soon the bring out the fungi that comes early September for eating.

Did see this non edible one today, oak bracket

 

[Lankyman]

View attachment 27375

I was in Yorkshire yesterday, around Harrogate and astonished to see some patches of green in the grass and fields. Everything has been completed scorched down south.

That looks almost scorched! I've watched the news coverage showing drone shots of dry, brown land in southern England with a sense almost of horror. By contrast, in northern Lancashire we seem to be almost back to normal with just a small amount of recent rain. Here's what it's like not far from me in the Hodder valley just over a week ago. The pastures are pretty much all green.

By contrast, the moor grasses are turning brown but that's not all that unusual for mid-August.

Hopefully, once the rains return things down south will recover?

 

[kay]

"Apparently, frogbit is classed as 'vulnerable' in Britain but is an invasive pest in North America. I was glad to see quite a few butterflies and bees out today."

I expect there's a country somewhere in the world where Himalayan Balsam is classed as "vulnerable".

 

[kay]

Chicken of the wood?

I've got a small chunk that I intended to cook for tea tonight but was so tired when I got home that I forgot. Tomorrow, then. Or maybe breakfast.

 

[alanw]

I was in Yorkshire yesterday, around Harrogate and astonished to see some patches of green in the grass and fields. Everything has been completed scorched down south.

It's pissing down over Gaping Gill at the moment. I haven't been dancing.

 

[Lankyman]

It's pissing down over Gaping Gill at the moment. I haven't been dancing.
View attachment 27388

I think that big yellow blob passed over me last night. Unfortunately, Tues to Thurs looks like baking hot again.

 

[kay]

More showers on a Bowland walk yesterday so the pastures have greened up somewhat (sorry @JasonC!). Up on the moor there were bilberries and cranberries but not as big and juicy as past years (long dry spells?).

View attachment 27285
I think the heather might also have taken a beating from the long, hot, dry spell but the recent showers seem to have brought it on a bit. The views towards the Dales fells were good.

Are you sure those are cranberries? They look a bit bushy. THe UK cranberry (at least the typical growth form on Ingleborough) is trailing over Sphagnum, those look more like cowberry to me, though I could be quite wrong as it wasn't me that saw them! It doesn't help that most of the pictures thrown up by google aren't of uk cranberries. Here is a picture of cranberries on Ingleborough for comparison

 

[kay]

I've got a small chunk that I intended to cook for tea tonight but was so tired when I got home that I forgot. Tomorrow, then. Or maybe breakfast.

Had it for lunch today. Well, most of it - I always leave a piece for the ambulance, just in case. Googling suggested that, rather than fry in butter with a tiny bit of garlic, which works well for most species, it might be better boiled for 10 mins, to destroy anything that might upset the stomach. It was quite amazing - tasted completely of chicken and not at all of mushroom. It was a bit old and tough, though, so I must try again with a younger one. Can't wait!